Ice-can filler



Dec. 29, 1925. 1,567,161

V. P. MILLER 10E CAN FILLER Filed July 26, 1924 IN VEN TOR Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNlTED STATES all.

VAN P. MILLER, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS.

ICE-CAN \pplication filed July 26, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VAN P. IVIILLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago Heights, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ice-Can Fillers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in ice can fillers, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements here in described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to p. )vide a device of the type described by means of which ice cans such as used in ice manufactories may be rapidly filled and with just the proper amount of water, and without the necessity of moving the can after it has been filled.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which means is provided for automatically shutting off the supply of water when the proper amount of Water has been delivered into the ice can.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which may be secured to the regular can-dog connections used on the crane ordinarily employed for lifting ice cans from one position to another in the freezing room. This construction makes it possible to move the filler in place of moving the cans, and thereby greatly facilitates the process of filling.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction, durable, andwhich is thoroughly practical for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel. features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1 shown in an operative position, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 33 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention I make use of the ordinary type of rectangular ice can FILLER.

Serial No. 728,407.

1 open at the top. It is ordinary practice to till these cans with water at a predetermined level and then move the cans to their proper positions for freezing. Obviously lifting a can filled with water tends to bulge the sides and materially weaken the cans as well as to deform the cans in such a manner that the ice block extracted therefrom will be irregular.

My invention consists in a frame 2 having horizontally disposed strips 3 on each side thereof for limiting the downward movement of the frame 2 when it is projected into the can 1 as shown in Figure 2.

The upper end of the frame 2 provided with members 4- arranged to receive can-dogs carried by the cables 5 which are operated by a crane of the ordinary type, (not shown). In this manner the frame 2 may be moved from one portion of the ice room to another and from one can to other cans during the process of filling.

A flexible feed pipe 6 is secured at one end to a valve casing 7 carried by the frame 2. This valve casing 7 houses a quick acting valve having a stem projecting there from as shown at 8. A lever 9 for operating the stem 8 is carried thereby and extends radially from the stem.

A tension spring 10 is secured at one end 11 to the lever 9 and at the opposite end 12 to the frame 2, so as to normally maintain the valve in a closed position and the lever 9 in the position shown in full lines in Figure 3. A break joint consisting of a pair of pivotally connected links 13 and 1% is pivotally secured at one end 15 to the lever 9 and at the opposite end 16 to the frame When the break joint 13-14 is in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, i. 0.. its members 13 and 14 are in longitudinui alignment, the lever S) will lie in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. and the valve will be opened. This will permit water to pass from the supply pipe I; through the valve and through a downwardly extending outlet pipe 17 which will deliver water directly into the can 1.

A float 18 carried by the lower end of the frame 2 and stayed against horizontal movement by the vertical bars 19, is provided for the purpose of opening the break joint 13--- 14 when the level of the water in the can 1 has reached a predetermined height.

This opening of the break joint is accomplished by the provision of a vertical rod 20 extending upwardly from the float 18, and having a head portion 21, which is arranged to engage with the under side of the break joint 1314, (see Figure 3, dotted lines) and elevate the members to the position shown in full lines, thereby permitting the spring 10 to function and close the valve in the manner described.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. Letrus assume that several ice cans are disposedin their proper position in the freezing room and it is desiredvto fill the cans with the proper amountof water for freezing. Ordinarily, this is accomplished by either employing several delivery tubes with a common shut-off which must be tended personally, or in filling the cans at a, common supply source and lifting the cans by the provision ofa crane to their final position for freezing. v

My present invention, however, overcomes the disadvantages found in the ordinary process of filling cans. In its use, the entire device is moved from place to place by the crane ordinarily employed for lifting the cans. It ispermitted to descend into acan until the strips 3 preclude further downward movement, (see Figure 2). .At this time the break joint 13l4 is manually moved to the position shown in dotted lines in igure 3. This will open the valvesandwater will be delivered through the depending pipe 17 into thecan 1. j, v a v lVhen the level of the water in the can has reached apredeterminedheight, the float 18 which will move vertically withtherise of water, will cause the headsportion 21 of the member 20 to engage with the break joint and open the break joint to the position shown .in Figure 3. The spring 10 will then causethe breakjoint to move, thus closing the valve. The entire device should then be moved to another can and the process repeated.

I claim:

1. An ice can filler of the type described comprising a portable frame fashioned so as to be partially received within an upright ice can, means for conducting water to said frame whereby the water is delivered to said ice can, a normally closed valve associated with said water conducting means, a break joint consisting of a pair of pivotally connected linksfor maintaining said valve open when the cooperating' links of the breakjoint are in longitudinal alignment, a float carried said frame, and a rod extending upwardly from said float and having its upper portion adapted to engage with said break-joint in the proximity of the pivotal connection between the cooperating links thereof, whereby the rod as the float is elevated may open the break-joint to close said valve. A 7

2. An ice can filler of the type described comprising a portable frame constructed to be lifted from oneplace to another by means of a crane or the like and fashioned so as to be partially received within an upright ice can, means for conducting water to said frame whereby the water is deliveredto said ice can, a valve associated with said water conducting means, a spring for normally closing said valve,- a break-joint consisting of a pair of pivotally connected links for maintaining said valve open when the coopcrating links of the break-joint are in longitudinal alignment, a float carried by said frame, and a rod extending upwardly from said float and having its upper portion adapted to engage with said break-joint in the proximity of the pivotal connection between the cooperating links thereof, where by the rod as the float is elevated may open the break-joint to close said valve. 7

VAN P. MILLER. 

